Improvement in railroad-switch lanterns



C.v BYRNE. y Railroad Switch Lantern.

Patented Jan. 27, 1863.`

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wiuefsses UNITED STATES PATENT EEIOE.

CHRISTOPHER BYHNE, OF KINGsvILLE, OHIO.l

IMPROVEMENT IN RAILROAD-SWITCH LANTERNS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 37,493, dated January 27, 1863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known-that I, C. BYRNE, of Kingsville, in the county of Ashtabula and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Switch Lamps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and complete description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specication, in which- Figure l is afront view showing a red light. Fig. 2 is a view showing a green light. Fig. 3 is a vertical section showing theinternal structure, and Fig. 4 is a cross-section.

Like letters refer to like parts.

The nature of my invention relates to such a structure of the lamp that it is not disturbed by the jarring of the passing train, by the changing of the switch, or by the action of the wind. VThe structure is also of such a nature that mineral oils can be burned Without difficulty, which is not the case with other lamps for railroad-switches.

The lever for changing the switch is shown at A, Fig. 1,'and is of ordinary construction.

B represents the post upon which the lamp is placed, and is caused to rotate one-quarter 'of a .circle by the movement of the switch-lever, by means of a stud, C, attached to the stand ard, and a connecting-rod,D, which connects it to the lever A.

`The body of the lamp is fitted with a socket, E, into which the standard B iits, as seen in section, Fig. 3. This socket is square or rectangular, so that the lamp-body must turn with the post.

The body of the lamp consists of two parts. The lower part, F, has a double wall, F F. The outer wall,F,is perforated at the bottom, as seen at G, for the admission of atmospheric air to support the combustion of the oil. The upper part ot' the outer wall, F, is united closely to the upper section, H, which is of a square form, with red-stained glass on two opposite sides and green-stained glass on the other two opposite sides, and the body of the lamp is so placed on the upper end of the post that when the switch is set either the green or red light will face the track. Between the walls F and F' is an annular space through which the air rises to support the combustion of the oil in the lamp. At the line w fc, Fig. 3, a diaphragm, I, stretches across the lower section of the body of the lamp,between the inner walls, F. Below this the space is inclosed by hollow braces K,into which are set spiral springs J. These extend upward from the diaphragm about one-fourth of an inch, and are attached to a disk-plate, L, upon which the oil-cup rests.

Mrepresents the oil-cup. The spiral spring s J are made ot' very light wire, so that wht-I1 the oil-cup is full the weight thereof will compress the springs till the disk L and diaphragm are brought nearly into contact with each other. By thus suspending the oil-cup (which also contains the wick) upon the sen sitive springs J the concussion or sudden jar of the lamp-post by the passing train does not communicate sufficient motion to the cup to extinguish the flame, -for the springs absorb the vibration, the cup in the meantime remaining in a state of rest. Between the inner Wall, F', and the oil-cup is a space of about one-fourth of an inch, and this spaceis occupied by a packing of india-rubber, Woolen batting, or some other soft and elastic substance, to protect the cup from a sudden jar in changing the switch, for in doing this the post upon which the lamp rests turns-a quarter-circle. Three sides of the upper section are practically airtight by having the frame closely soldered and the glass puttied in. The face H is set in by means of a double groove, (shown in Fig. 5, which is an enlarged view of a cross-section of the para) and ts as accurately as is consistent with sliding the panel up and down for the purpose of getting access to the oil-cup to replenish the oil and light the lamp. The body His surmounted byacap, O, which is also made double, as seen at O O in Fig. 3, the outer wall being perforated for the escape of the products of combustion. By this construction the whole body ofthe lamp forms a flue sufticiently perfect to cause a complete combustion of mineral oil without the aid of an additional flue inside, all the air being admitted at the openings G, and the gases escaping at l? and P.

In consequence of the almost air-tight condition of the body of the lamp, the strongest wind has little or no action upon the llame.

What I claim as my improvement, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1'. Constructing the body of the lamp practically air-tight, with the double Walls F F and openings G and P and P', for the purpose specified.

2. Supporting the oil-cup and Wick upon delicate springs, and surrounding the same with elastic packing, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The double grooves for the siidingpanel, for the purpose described.

CHRISTOPHER BYRNE. Witnesses:

W. H. BURRIDGE, HENRY Vorn. 

